Gop Expands Its Rolls At Expense Of Democrats

January 12, 1986|By John Kennedy, Staff writer

THE GREAT DIVIDE ... The gap separating the number of county Republicans from Democrats has narrowed to its thinnest margin in at least five years, according to year-end totals from the Supervisor of Elections.

``This is a far cry from about 15 years ago, when you couldn`t find a Republican around here,`` GOP activist Genevieve Hazelip said about the wavelet of change.

As of Dec. 31, there were 150,604 registered Republicans in the county, or 39 percent of voters. Democrats numbered 199,113 voters, or 51 percent. The remaining 10 percent was listed as independent or other.

``Thirty-nine percent? That`s great,`` said Hazelip, the voice from the silver lining department.

The GOP obviously has a long way to go to pull even with Democrats. But if 1985 is any indication, Democrats are leaving the party faster than fleas off a dog bound for Hartz Mountain.

From year-end 1984 to year-end 1985, Democrats lost 5,243 voters while Republicans gained 2,065; a net GOP gain of 7,308.

Included in county totals are results from last summer`s Operation Open Door, which Hazelip helped organize locally. The effort, chiefly aimed at luring dissatisfied Democrats to the GOP ranks, resulted in 940 new Republicans. Of those, 815 were Democrats.

The December figures are the lowest point Democrats have reached in a fall from grace that began in 1983.

Democrats outgunned Republicans 54-37 percent three years ago. That breakdown had stood since at least 1980, when President Reagan was elected to his first term.

One theory drawn about the Democratic decline is that as the county grows larger and younger, more of this new blood is Republican.

Reagan, and Republicanism, is currently in vogue. Newcomers are following what`s hip, or perhaps in Reagan`s case, hep.

Meanwhile, the aging ranks of condo Democrats thin. But for now, county Democrats are shrugging-off their losses.

``The county is just becoming more conservative,`` said Andre Fladell, of the South County Political Cooperative and a member of the Democratic Executive Committee.

``But it`s really just cyclical. We have better young people in the party now than ever,`` he said.

DIRTY LAUNDRY ... While the county GOP grows, it does so in spite of itself. When it comes to scrapping, local Republicans are the best infighters since Joe Frazier retired from the heavyweight ranks.

The latest sparring comes from a faction within the Republican Executive Committee that`s seeking to have Boca Raton Mayor William Konrad reinstated on the committee.

Hizzoner was ousted last fall for poor attendance at the monthly REC meetings. But state Committeewoman Marion Hallman is endorsing Konrad`s return over objections from REC Chairman Arlene Hollen, a Konrad foe.

Hallman cites a state statute allowing elected officials to miss meetings when performing government business. If Konrad was doing the city`s bidding during these absences, he could be reinstated, she said.

So far, though, Konrad has shown no interest in rejoining the GOP leadership.

``He probably doesn`t want to rock to boat,`` Hallman said. ``I don`t think he`d reduce himself to the level of their fight.``

THE STORK WINS ... Robin Bernstein, aide to County Commissioner Ken Spillias, has dropped out of the race for West Palm Beach City Commissioner Helen Wilkes` seat.

The reason? She and husband, Richard, are expecting a baby in September.

SAY WATT ... Former County Commissioner Peggy Evatt has scheduled a Monday news conference to announce she`s running for state Rep. Jim Watt`s District 81 seat.

``I`ve been getting a lot of much-needed rest in the past year. It`s been like a sabbatical,`` said Evatt, a Republican. ``But I`m looking forward to getting back into things.``

Watt is not seeking re-election. Instead, the Lake Park lawyer is looking to become Florida`s first Republican attorney general in 112 years.

Evatt stepped down in 1984 after eight years on the County Commission. An attempt at dynasty-building failed when her husband, Herb, lost a bitter race with Karen Marcus for Evatt`s seat.

``I know what the problems are on the local level, and basically the issues in the Legislature are the same, except on a broader scale,`` Evatt said.